How do you explain your profession to people outside of the industry? What do you find most exciting and/or rewarding about this work?
My job is really focused on enabling brands and retailers to build more sustainable and profitable businesses, while simultaneously delivering great customer experiences. This work is exciting because we find ourselves at a unique crossroads in the retail world — where omnichannel has become an even bigger focus, margins have gone down and customer acquisition costs have gone up. All of these factors have made a dramatic impact on retail businesses. This work is rewarding for us and strategic for our customers. It’s exciting to have founded a company that is serving so many large and small retailers.
What milestone or accomplishment have you made in your career that you are most proud of?
I’ve dreamed of starting a $1B+ company since I was a little kid. As the child of two entrepreneurs, this is something I’ve always aspired to. Having done that here at Extend is something that I’m incredibly proud of, and is a testament to the amazing employees we have working with us and customers who have partnered with us.
What is one notable achievement (personal or professional) that you've made over the past year?
In past year, I was named a 40 Under 40 recipient by Retail TouchPoints and a 30 Under 30 recipient by Forbes. These achievements are unique accolades that validate some of the amazing work we are doing at Extend. They are also awards that I largely attribute to the many folks who have helped me grow and have supported me throughout my career, most specifically my parents and my sister.
What is a piece of media that has inspired you professionally?
I love nature documentaries. Most recently, I watched “The Alpinist,” which was an amazing and inspiring documentary about a free climber that ascends insane mountains and ice capped peaks. Just watching his bravery, fortitude, persistence and willingness to risk his whole life puts the day-to-day things you do into perspective. The movie gets me fired up and excited to take on each new day, and also wills me to always take smart risks when its worthwhile.
Please share one fun or surprising fact about yourself:
I’ve traveled to over 70 countries!
